More Wild Than Wet!

Truett won't be taking swimming lessons this summer...hahahaha! After meeting with the swim instructor last week, she said that there is nothing she can teach him that I couldn't teach him myself. He basically needs to work on his kicking...he marches under the water, so he doesn't go anywhere when he kicks. I knew that he wasn't going to be taught anything that I couldn't teach him, but I was curious to see if he'd be a little more focused with a swimming teacher as opposed to me. He tends to just jump in, get out, jump in, get out, etc....and play when he's in the pool with any of us. Yeah, apparently it doesn't matter WHO he's in the pool with, all he wants to do is PLAY! We'll continue to work on it and hopefully he'll learn a little more.

It's finally starting to feel like summer break around here. The first week school let out, we were SOOOOO busy...Truett's birthday, my mom's birthday, my in-law's anniversary, Truett's party, and Father's Day...ALL IN THE SAME WEEK! Next week is the annual July 4th parade in Coppell. We will be riding in the parade, again, promoting Jay's business. We're also going to Louisiana the following week to spend some time at the beach with my family. We are all so excited about doing these things with Truett this year. He seemed to have so much fun with the parade and going to the beach last year, we can only imagine how much he'll enjoy it this year. We're really looking forward to taking pictures and watching him have a blast. It'll be nice to get away with our family and just relax, too...well, relax as much as you can with a 2-year-old!

Wet and Wild

Today we're starting our first swimming lessons of the summer. Truett took private lessons last year and was taught a few basic things - blowing bubbles, holding on to the side of the pool, jumping in from the side, etc...

I think our motivational speeches (YOU CAN DO IT!) has going to his head because apparently Truett thinks he's a member of the US Olympic swim team! This summer, he is COMPLETELY fearless of the water and instead of jumping TO whoever is waiting to catch him, he jumps away from them, thinking he'll just swim up to them when he hits the water. It's pretty amusing to watch, but scary all at the same time.

We have a girl coming to teach him some basic 'life saving' strategies. She'll teach him how to float on his back and stomach and some basic strokes so if he were to fall in when no one was around, he'd be able to save himself. I'm really excited because he has already started to kick and move his arms when he's in the water, so hopefully he'll pick it up quickly. I'm also really excited because I'm hoping the swim lessons in the afternoon (right before NAP TIME) will help make our nap time routine a little easier! :)

There's a First Time for Everything!

I thought I'd share a new 1st for Truett. Yesterday, I was doing laundry and Truett was 'helping' me put the clothes away in my bedroom. I walked to the launry room to get the clothes out of the dryer, only to return to a closed and LOCKED bedroom door! I felt like some sort of SWAT team negotiator trying to talk Truett into unlocking the door. I wasn't sure, at first, that he even realized that he had locked the door.

After SEVERAL phone calls to Jay, even more attempts to find something that would fit in the hole to pop the lock and 20 minutes, I FINALLY got the door unlocked. All was well! I even made a quick phone call to my mom to share the 'funny little story' with her.

It truly is amazing at just how little credit we give our kids. The "he didn't even realize he had locked the door" theory was QUICKLY thrown out when I find the door closed and locked AGAIN! This time, it took me 30 minutes to unlock because the only tool in the house that worked was IN THE LOCKED BEDROOM!!!! I eventually had to take a hammer and hit the doorknob until the door opened.

The new rule in our house...NO CLOSING DOORS!

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

So, Truett's new thing is that he HAS to have the 'bright light' on when he goes to bed at night...not to mention the 2 night lights on either side of his bed! Jay and I can't figure out what his deal is and if there is something that is causing him to be afraid or if this is just 'normal behavior'. He has a cross hanging over his door and he says that Jesus says, "NO MONSTERS!", but that just ain't cuttin' it for him.

It was a little humorous, at first, but the other night while I was reading to him, I told him that after we read, I was going to put him in his bed, but that I'd leave his door open and turn on the hall light. He said, "Ok, Mama. I not worry." WORRY? I'm starting to think that our 'used to be so easy' bedtime ritual has turned into a nightmare not because our child doesn't want to go to sleep but because he's so scared of the dark! :(

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! Until then, I guess it'll be 'lights on' at 'lights out' time in the Praytor house! :)

My Dogs Are Tired!

We had Truett's birthday paw-ty this past Saturday. It was so much fun and I think everyone had a great time. It was a puppy theme, complete with hot dogs, puppy chow and pup-cakes. The kids even ate out of dog bowls!

There were about 24 people here, but between my immediate family and Jay's immediate family, we make up 14 of those people! :) It was great to have our family and friends around to celebrate Truett.

Truett had a great time playing with his friend, Olivia. She's a couple of months younger than Truett, so he enjoys being around someone his own age. Don't get me wrong, though...he LOVED swimming and running around with the 'big dogs', too! My brother, John, is 13 and is Truett's IDOL! Truett is like one of those little dogs who thinks he's a German Shepherd. He likes to hang with the best of them!

My camera broke the morning of the party (we just bought it 3 weeks ago!) so I'm waiting for others to forward on the pics they took. As soon as I get some of the pics, I'll post them.

Truett is TWO!

Yesterday was Truett's 2nd birthday and we had such a great day! He slept until 8:00 and when he woke up, I asked him if he slept well. He said, "Yes! I sleep all night!" :)

He and I got dressed and headed off to have donut holes for breakfast. We met Jay at Eddie's Barber Shop in Coppell and Truett got a haircut. He LOVES seeing Mr. Eddie because after each haircut, he gives Truett a pack of Gummy Lifesavers! Truett sat very still and waited patiently while his hair was trimmed up. He was very excited about getting his gummies, too.

After his haircut, Truett and I went to Michael's to buy some paints and things to work on at home. Truett wanted to buy EVERYTHING he could touch. We finally agreed on some paint and some things he could work on for Father's Day.

We checked out and headed to my mom's house. No one was home, so we were able to work on our secret Father's Day gifts for all the dads. Truett LOVED painting, but needless to say, was more interested in squeezing gobs of paint out rather than actually painting. :)

After his nap, my parents and Sarah and John came home. Truett was thrilled to see them...as usual! He ran around the house chasing John, yelling at John, John chasing him, etc...

Last night, Jay and I took Truett to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate his birthday. His party is on Saturday, but we still wanted to do something fun with him on his actual birthday. My sister, Emily, and her boyfriend, David, joined us...along with Jay's mom. TRUETT WAS PUMPED!!!

He played and played and was more interested in climbing up through the big hamster tubes than spending the 100+ coins we bought!!! hahahahaha!

Truett's on this new kick about salad. I'm so glad that he's eating veggies that I'm MORE than happy to accommodate! We had salad and pizza and lemonade. When Chuck E. came on the stage and started singing, Truett couldn't get enough. I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head!

After eating, Truett was ready for round 2, so he played some more while Jay, Emily, and David tried to use up all the Chuck E. tokens we had. When all was said and done, we had won a total of 666 tickets. Truett went to turn in his tickets and chose a Chuck E. kickball, a lollipop and a rubber snake. When we left, I asked Truett if he had a good time and he said, "YES! I play all night!"

He passed out as soon as we got home!